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 What should I do with the Railroad retirement benefits?
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          Your Duties as Representative Payee
          What should I do with the Railroad retirement benefits?
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              What are my duties as a representative payee?
          What should I do with the Railroad retirement benefits?
          What should I do if the beneficiary is receiving health care under the Medicare health insurance program?
          How must I account for the railroad retirement benefits?
          How should I use the railroad retirement benefits of a person who is in a nursing home or other institution?
          When may railroad retirement benefits be used to support the beneficiary's legally dependent spouse, legally dependent child, or legally dependent parent?
          May I pay old bills of the person for whom I am receiving railroad retirement benefits?
          How should I invest the railroad retirement benefits I am receiving on behalf of another person?
          What should I do with the railroad retirement benefits I have saved if I cease to be the representative payee for the beneficiary or if the beneficiary dies?
          What must I report about changes in the care and guardianship of the beneficiary?
          Where can I get additional information? What should I do with the Railroad retirement benefits?
							 
							
							
            (07-23)
      
            pdf iconRB-5 (132.33 KB)
      
            Since railroad retirement benefits are intended to replace part of the income on which most families are dependent and which is lost because of the disability, retirement, or death of the worker, the benefits will ordinarily be used to provide for the beneficiary's basic needs. First consideration must always be given to using the benefits for the person's day-to-day maintenance. This includes paying the expenses of food, shelter, clothing, and meeting personal needs, such as pocket money if the person is able to use it. Beyond this, benefits may be used to take care of special needs the person may have, such as school expenses, rehabilitation or medical expenses, and other purposes that are in the beneficiary's best interest.

When you use your own or other money to support the beneficiary, railroad retirement benefits which are not required for the beneficiary's current support and need must either be saved or otherwise invested.  However, the money may sometimes be used for the support of a legally-dependent spouse, child, or parent. (See question 6).

If you decide to use your own or other money instead of the railroad retirement benefits for the current support of the beneficiary and save or invest the benefits for him, you cannot ordinarily use the conserved benefits to repay others or yourself later.
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 Last updated: 06/29/2023